The Walking Dead: Season Two Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins

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The Walking Dead: Season Two Episode 4 - Amid the Ruins Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 236 Ratings

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  • Summary: Free from their brutal captor, the group continues their journey north. However, hunger, violence and death have taken their toll. Smoldering conflicts and inevitable changes within the group remind Clementine that danger can come from within, as well as from the outside; she must choose herFree from their brutal captor, the group continues their journey north. However, hunger, violence and death have taken their toll. Smoldering conflicts and inevitable changes within the group remind Clementine that danger can come from within, as well as from the outside; she must choose her allies wisely in this second-to-last episode of The Walking Dead: Season Two.… Expand

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The Walking Dead: Season Two - Episode 3 Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. Gaming Age
    Jul 22, 2014
    100
    I’ve found this episode to be so enjoyable that I have a tough time believing Telltale can even top it with the finale.
  2. Joystiq
    Jul 22, 2014
    90
    Amid the Ruins forces us to swing that axe again and again and again in unsavory situations; it forces us to feel each step through a mass of hungry zombies, and it makes the steps leading up to an uncomfortable conversation just as tense.
  3. GameFront
    Jul 22, 2014
    90
    The story continues to develop in unexpected directions, and the suspense that’s building for Episode 5 is palpable and intense.
  4. The Escapist
    Jul 22, 2014
    80
    The most memorable episode since the season premier, Amid The Ruins fleshes out the supporting cast, provides some nasty scenarios, and takes Kenny's personal arc to some very haunting places.
  5. Gamer.nl
    Aug 20, 2014
    75
    The Walking Dead: Season 2 isn’t on par with the first season, but every episode is still fun. Every episode was entertaining in its own right, but the synergy between episodes is lacking.
  6. AusGamers
    Jul 23, 2014
    75
    Amid The Ruins is another quality Telltale episode, but it’s not the most memorable that they’ve ever done. It ends on a huge cliffhanger, as they all seem to now, but it’s not necessarily one that sets up an exciting final conflict.
  7. Kill Screen
    Aug 11, 2014
    55
    Episode 4 naturally acts as a lull, so it’s unnerving that for the most part, it does little to move the story forward besides a few character moments and one major life-changing and tense sequence.

See all 39 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. TheWalkingFat
    Jul 22, 2014
    10
    This is potentially the saddest most heart wrenching episode of Season 2, and it's my favourite. It has lots of character development fromThis is potentially the saddest most heart wrenching episode of Season 2, and it's my favourite. It has lots of character development from within the characters, and they are setting up for a very hard choice. It had an actually kind of hard puzzle and some nice hubs. Overall it's my favourite episode of Season 2.… Expand
  2. angarvin43
    Jul 24, 2014
    10
    An outstanding episode. When the last episode comes out, the charm of the series is back. In this episode, another peak has risen. Glad thatAn outstanding episode. When the last episode comes out, the charm of the series is back. In this episode, another peak has risen. Glad that the developers have good understanding about what the fans of the series like about.

    This episode is packed with conflicts, moral decisions and intense moments, which are well thought out. The personality of characters start to grow and become apparent, taking advantage of the hints planted in previous episodes. The characters are just depicted with more dimensions and become attractive.

    Some players prefer more exploration, so this episode has much more in this aspect. The decision with significant consequence is also highly praised by the community. Apparently, the developers know about this, and there are more harsh choices to be made by player this time.

    I can really feel that life is really hard in this episode. At the end of episode, I am really eager to know what will happen in the next episode.

    To summarize, the success of this episode originates from the fact that developers have good understanding about why their product is so charming to their fans. As a result, they take advantages of this, and make such episode become more appealing.

    I hope that the developers can keep up their good work in the upcoming episodes.    … Expand
  4. rjdude13
    Jul 22, 2014
    10
    This episode is the BEST of the season. The choices Telltale puts you through and how fast you must choose makes the game more intense thanThis episode is the BEST of the season. The choices Telltale puts you through and how fast you must choose makes the game more intense than ever. Everything about this episode is amazing. Critics like Polygon giving this episode a 6/10 WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! The episode deserves AT LEAST a 9/10. Best episode of the season 10/10.… Expand
  5. PolisKanin
    Jul 25, 2014
    8
    The story in this episode is pretty good, but the glitches I experienced in the episode bring it down. While no one else I have spoken to hasThe story in this episode is pretty good, but the glitches I experienced in the episode bring it down. While no one else I have spoken to has experienced these glitches, it took away from the whole experience for me. The game crashed at least 10 times, and it was not my computer as this has never happened on any other game I have ever played. However, the story deserves 9/10, so overall due to the glitch, I will rate this game 8/10.… Expand
  6. djrussell
    Jul 23, 2014
    8
    Overall i thought it was a really good episode. I have to say though that this episode, unlike any in the past, feel like character dialogueOverall i thought it was a really good episode. I have to say though that this episode, unlike any in the past, feel like character dialogue was written by someone else completely. Some characters feel incredibly out of character in what they would usually say or do and some situations dont have the obvious dialog option available at all. I really wanted to explain my actions to certain characters but the game never allowed for that, instead opting for "defensive" or just outright aggressive answers. Still, a great episode in terms of story. Looking forward to the last episode.… Expand
  7. Dejey
    Jul 30, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ok so where do we start with this episode? I think it is best to start off with what happened in episode 3 and the ugly of it.

    The ending of episode 3 leaves us with that event with Sarita. This sadly was so watered down for my liking, what I mean by this is that while said event did have some downsides late on in the episode it felt to little of an effect to me. Kenny's reaction just seems to fall off way to fast for my liking!

    Next we have Jane; I will not say I do not like her... It is just she came on to strong I feel. Yes she is progressing the "Clementine growth" and as the story did go on it worked. I think it was just me getting use to her due to the fact she came out of left field with her comments that linked her to Clementine.

    There will be spoilers that will end I will mark it off with 2 or 3 lines of chat if you wish to keep on reading what I loved!

    And we have last what is dislike about the story! up to this point I have made it without spoilers unless you look deeper into it. So you have been warned!

    ****SPOILERS AHEAD****
    ****SPOILERS AHEAD****
    ****SPOILERS AHEAD****

    The deaths in this one just felt weak and thrown in,I have to say we all saw Sarita but the fact that nothing we did could trade off her life got me mad. Throw in it felt like the ending event in episode 3 did feel a little cheapened, although it did have small consequences latter on it still just did not sit well with me.

    Poor Luke! What else can I say how they did this was just bla. That is all.

    Let us not forget Sarah's end I mean the events that followed just where shocking to me, she is forgotten and no one cares just because of the baby? NO! that is not OK! I may have wished to kill her off from the first episode I saw her, but that does not change the fact that she was a very important player in the Clementine we see today. This was in my eyes one of the worst kill offs ever in this game. Do not do this again ever!

    *************************spoilers over****************************************
    *************************spoilers over****************************************
    *************************spoilers over****************************************
    Now lets talk about what it did right. It is starting to show the growth in full swing here of Clementine! This is portrayed almost flawlessly. We see just in our options how she is starting to view the world, a latter dialog with Sarah really took me by surprise and drove that home to me far more than anything else has to date. It felt like a major turning point for Clementine and I loved every second of it!

    Plot even tho there was parts I heavily disliked it was overall well done for a lead up. We have a overshadowing even that has been around for very long, finally finish! I need to try and see if other outcomes can happen but in my back and forth loading chapters I could not as of yet and really I am ok with this! It starts out moving a little to fast but does slow things down in the middle before speeding up at the end. Overall after the events at the start the pacing is fine less the spoiler section of this review.

    and last we have Kenny, outside this one mess up on him I loved how they did handled most of his events, I wont spoil anything but we see him go full circle and have to reflect on his past, This has always been a strong point for me in this game and I really hope they keep it up. Kenny is by far one of the better flushed out characters and they do him justice almost always.

    Now for the final answer, based off all I have said was wrong you may think it turned out to be a terrible episode. The episode does not rank up there with the best but it could of, if they had split its contents into two, sadly we know they have set their limit to 5 and thus some events received far to little time, but what they did do right they did so well I can forgive some of the blunders. Overall It is a 8 out of 10

    A point is taken off for screwing with the cast and not fleshing it out more, and another is taken out for pacing. If you can overlook some small turn offs the payoff is well worth it. Clementine really shines here and even more focus is put on what we all want, to see her grow as a person.

    If at the time you are asking yourself should I pick the game up now? I would say hold off if you have waited to this point. Episode 4 does not have any true fulfillment yet and it is the lead up episode. If you own it already it is well worth a play right now.    … Expand
  8. LeeEverett
    Dec 25, 2014
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bad story writing. I've played the whole season now and it's not the worst, probably the second worst...in my opinion. I hear the guy who wrote Amid the Ruins wasn't even working for TellTale...Please don't put story writing in the hands of someone who's not as experienced.

    I'm just lost for words really. I rate this episode 5/10 and even then I think I'm being generous. It started off alright but messed up. If Nick dies in episode 4 no one gives a crap apart from Rebecca and no one else cared enough to react (Luke's reaction was disgusting), and the way Nick dies off-screen, really TellTale? That is awful writing. Secondly Sarah's death on the observation deck is horrible and stupid..it made no sense to just kill her off like that.

    Arvo and his group come after you whether you steal the supplies or not - what a way to end the episode, it might have been intense but it was silly...I was expecting a better ending. Also, I liked Luke until Amid the Ruins...he didn't feel like the same character he was back in episode 1, episode 2 and episode 3; his personality changed completely and he became I don't know, reckless? Anyway he was one of my favourite characters and it sucks that his role in episode 4 and episode 5 became increasingly unimportant until he was killed off completely in a stupid way.

    There's also too much focus on one character in this episode and that is Kenny, there's too much focus of him in episode 5 too. I've been a huge Kenny fan throughout this season but it seems to me that TellTale wants him to look like a complete **** lot of the focus is always on Kenny and how badly he reacts to everything...and Luke and Kenny arguing. GIVE HIM A BREAK TELLTALE - he's had enough by the looks of it so stop placing emphasis on his character and trying to make him look bad. It seems like TellTale place too much emphasis on one character and forget about another character (like Sarah, if saved, is completely forgotten about in episode 4...she has about 5 lines worth of speech).

    The only thing I really liked about episode 4 is when AJ was born. It really sucks that Rebecca died soon after but her death wasn't as bad as Nick and Sarah's, at least her death was predictable. Carlos' death was also bad in episode 3 and same with Luke's death in episode 5. It sucks to see all the cabin survivors die and there's nothing we can do about it. YOUR CHOICES DON'T MATTER.    … Expand

See all 20 User Reviews

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